Minister for Primary Care Alex White has admitted that the planned free GP care scheme for children under six is behind schedule.

This makes it increasingly unlikely that the Government will meet its promise to have free GP care for the entire population in place by 2016.

Minister White told the Oireachtas Health Committee today that the summer deadline for the introduction of the scheme will not be met. He said it was now likely the scheme would be introduced in the autumn.

Talks with the doctors' union, the IMO, on the introduction of the scheme have been delayed following a major row over a draft contract and over the IMO's negotiating rights.

Recently, a framework document was agreed to allow talks to take place between the Department of Health/HSE and the IMO.

However, it is not yet clear when these talks will be initiated or whether agreement will be reached with GPs to work with revised contracts under the under sixes scheme.

Under the framework agreed, should agreement be reached following talks on the under sixes deal, it will be up to individual IMO members to decide on whether to accept a new deal, and the IMO cannot advise members collectively whether or not to accept such a deal.

The framework does, however, enable the IMO to fully consult with its GP membership and represent their views in discussions with the Government on any new GP contract.

Minister White said the Government was still committed to introducing free GP care for the entire population on a phased basis.

He said the introduction of free GP care for all under sixes would lead to half of the population being covered for these services free of charge at the point to access.